Water closet for boats



WATER CLOSET FOR BOATS Filed March 26, 1937 M MI/afm@ @Hy/MA ,S

Patented Sept. 20, 1938 STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,130,954 WATER CLOSET FORBOATS Edward Hoer-ichs, Baltimore, Md. Application March 26, 1937,Serial No. 133,236

3.0laims. Q.'Zl'he present invention relates to water closets,anjdfmoreespeciallyito those adapted for use on boats; andthe primaryyobject is to provide a lwatencloset which may be mounted with the lowerendof `the bowl or yhopper at or immediately belowthe water-'line of theboat but which shall effectively ejeCtQits contents automatically andavoid splashing of water upwardly into the bowl 'without'- requiring theuse of valves, pumps or other-*objectionable parts. i

@Amore particular object of the invention is to providemeans below thebottom of the hull of theboat to receive refuse from the bowl and Ioperative, 'bythe action of the water due to the forward motion of theboat, to effectively Withdraw and vdischarge such refuse, said meansalso serving to prevent splashing ofwater upwardly into the-bowl due topitching or rolling of the boat, either while in motion or anchored,said Cil meansbeing self-cleaning while the boat is anchored orv not inmotion. "'iAnother object is to provide means, operative automaticallyin consequence of the forward mofon'of the boat (in the water, toforcewater upwardlyjand discharge it into the upper portion of the bowl yforflushing it.` fAffurthe'r object of the invention is to provide a-`vnovel and improved mounting forthe bowl which V'is adjustable toenable the bowl to be mounted at different heights above the bottom ofthe' hull of the boat so that the lowerend or dislcharge. outlet 4of thebowl may occupy a predetermined orV desired height with respect to thewaterfline and to compensate for diierent angles of transverse andlongitudinal inclinations of the bottom of the hull 'of the boat inorder that the bowlmay occupy an upright or level position wheninstalled in dierent boats. `To' these andyother ends the inventionconsists in certain improvements and combinations and arrangements ofparts all' as will be hereinafter more fully described, the features ofnovelty being pointed out more' particularly in the claims at theendofrthis specification. v

`Intheaccompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a longitudinal verticalr sectionthrough a boat having installed therein av water closet inaccordancewith the presentinvention; Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on theline 2*-V2i'n Fig. 1;

'Figure' 3is a top`plan view vof theimproved standormounting for thecloset bowl;

-lif'g'urie 4 is a side elevation of the mounting or stand showing themanner of mounting it on the laterally sloping side of the bottom of thehull of aboat;

l Figure 5 iis a perspective view of the mounting of end with itsmembers in adjusted relation substantially 'as shown in 4; y"Figure '6'is a detailtop p lan view of the scoop for receiving and forcing waterinto the upper portion of the bowl for flushing it; and

Figure 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the upper member of thestand adjusted to a higher position.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in theseveral figures.

Water closets according to the present invention are adapted to beapplied to boats of various sizes and types, and the preferredembodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing andwill be hereinafter described in detail. It is to be understood howeverthat the invention is not restricted to the particular constructionshown since equivalent constructions are contemplated and such will beincluded within the scope of the claims.

As shown in the drawing, I represents a portion of the bottom of thehull of a boat, the hull bottom sloping longitudinally or in a fore andaft direction as shown for example in Fig, 1 and also sloping laterallyor in a direction from the keel to the side of the hull, although itwill be understood that the closet is applicable also to boats thebottom of the hull of which is flat or level, either longitudinally ortransversely or in both of such directions. 2 represents the closet bowlwhich may be of any usual or well known construction, it having anannular channel 3 at its top or rim and apertures 4 leading therefrom tothe sides of the bowl for flushing it, the lower or discharge end 5 ofthe bowl being surrounded by an outwardly extending flange 6 which ispreferably located above the lower extremity of the bowl.

The closet bowl is mounted on a stand which, according to the presentinvention, is universally adjustable to compensate for the slope of thehull bottom in a fore and aft direction and a slope of the hull bottomin a direction from the keel to the side of the boat, and is alsoadjustable so that it may support the bowl at different heights abovethe water-line of the boat in order that the lower or discharge end ofthe bowl may occupy the proper height with respect to the water-line.The stand as shown in the present instance comprises upper and lowerplates 1 and 8 which may be composed of metal castings, these plateshaving openings 9 and I0 formed centrally therein and having pairs ofsegments l I and l2 cast thereon or otherwise xed thereto at oppositesides of the central openings in the respective plates, the pair ofsegments on one plate being closer together than the pair of segments onthe other plate so that they may fit between them. Each of the segmentsIl on the plate l is provided with a series of holes I3 which arepreferably spaced equi-distantly, one of these holes being concentricwith the arcuate periphery of the respective segment, and each of thesegments l2 on the plate Vll is provided with a series of holes I4,

these holes being also equi-distantly spaced and one of these holesbeing concentric with the arcuate periphery of the respective segment.Bolts I5 extend through the holes in the respective segments Il whichare concentric withA the arcuate peripheries of thesesegment's andvthrouglh"`holes in the segments I2 and serveto clamp-together the pairsof segments on the plates 1 and 8. Loclf I8 are also inserted inappropriate holes ing bolts in the segments I2, these boltshavingwashersull which overlap the arcuate peripheries of the respectivesegments I I and serve as-meansrfonrmly v clamping the segments Il .andI2 together after they have been adjusted 'into theappr'opriate angularrelationship.

The lower plate 8 of the stand is adapted to mounted' on'the., bottom Iofthe hullv and to be clamped in water-tight 'engagement therewith bybolts I8 or other suitable/means. A ferruleor pipe 28, composed ofleador other Vsuitable ductile material andof a size to t over the dischargeend of the bowl below the'flange 6 thereon is 'extended through the'openingsv 9 and I8 in theplates 1 and 8 and through an opening 2i ofappropriate size' formed in the bottom" I of the hull.' Thelowe'r endofthis ferrule is' peened or. otherwise flanged outwardlyag'ainst theVunderside of the hull bottom I and maybe secured in water-tightengagement therewith by nails' 22. The upper' end of the 'ferrule is'peened or otherwise ,flanged outwardly and is secured, as by'nails 23to thefupper side of a board 24 of wood or other suitable vmaterialwhich is placed on'the upper side ofthe plate 1, the board 24 having acentral 'opening therein of suicient size forjthe passage ofthe ferrule.The bowl is rmlysecured on the stand by bolts 25'which extend throughtheflange 6, plate'l and board 24,these bolts, when tightened, firmlysecuring the bowl on the top of `the stand and clamping the outturnedflange on the ferrule and thus lforming a'water-tight joint'between' thebowl and the ferrule. i Y The present invention provides means forautomatically 'withdrawing refuse from the bowl while the boat isin/motion, such means compris-7 ing a shoe 26'which may be composed of acasting the `forward 'end of ,which is preferably curved and is providedwith an aperture 21 and the rear end of which is open, as at 28 for thedischarge of the refuse. "The shoe is provided'at'its upper edge, at thefrontl and sides thereof, with anoutturned ange 29 adapted to tagainstthe underf side of the hull bottom and to be secured'in wat'er tightengagement therewith by screws 38'or other suitable securing means. n'The interior" ofthe shoe communicateswith the' lower endv ofthe ferrule20'. Y The present invention 'also provides means for receiving waterfrom the exterior of' the boat while the latter is in motion and forforcing the water upwardly intothe flushing channel 2in the upperportion of the bowl,"such means l*comprising a scoop 3l, which may jbecomposed of hollow casting havingv a surrounding lflange 32 adapted toiit'againstl the Vunderside of.' thehull t bottom and'to be secured inwater-tight engage-I ment therewith by 'screws 33 'or other'suitablemeans. The forward side of the vscoop or theside thereof which faces thebow of the boat is pro; vided with a suitable'lnumber of slots', 34 toadmit water thereto incident'to the forwardmotion of the boat, and therear'portion'of ther scoop, is formed at the top `withja plate 35 into,whi'cha pipe 38 is threaded,`lthi s pipe being yconnected'at its upperend Yto the .lrlushing `"channel 3 inthe `with the incline or inclinesof the hull bottom,

and the upper plate 1 set in a level position, the

ybolts I5`Ic`onecting the segments II and I2 permitting such-relativeangular adjustment of the platesand the lbolts. I1 locking the plates inangularly "adjusted relationship. The bowl is preferablymounted at suchas height with respect to the water-line :I3-fx ofthe boat as to causewater fromv theexteriorof the `boat/to normally 'ri'sein 'the lower end'ofthe bowl'to a height slightlyiabove'the flange 6 thereof as shown inFiglfl,v themounting of the bowl at the desired height being"accomplished by placing the bolts f I 5 and' `I1` in`Ithe"apprc'npriate vrvertically spaced holes I4 "inthe segments I2,tightening of these bolts Nfirmly 'securing'the Vplates 1 and 8 inadjusted'relationship; In installing the'closet in ak boatvthe bottom ofthe'hull of which slopes 'upwardly from'the rkeel to theV side of theboat, the 'stand' maybe mounted on the hull bottom inthe'manner shown'in Fig. 4, the segments Il and I2v being ylocated at the front and rearsides vof the ferrule 20V andthe plates 1 and 8 being properly'adjusted'angularly about the bolts I 5 as pivotalcenters so' thatv theplate 8 may occupy inclined'position'corresponding tothe latv eral slopeofthe hull bottom and theupper plate the'slope Of'the hull bottom inboth 0f said drections may be compensated for by rotating thestand"`more .or less about its vertical axis Vfrom the'l positionshownin Fig. 4 into the position shownjlfor example in Fig. 5 while the lowerplate 8 vrests on kthe boat bottom, and rocking the `ulfniierl p late'1'about thepivot bolts I5 untiljitassumes aflevel position, after whichthe plate 1' isrmly secured in such position by tightening ofjthe'boltsI5 and I1. In'installing the bowlunderanyof "these conditions. theferrule 2 8"is insertedafter'the upper and lower plates of the 'standhaveibeenadjusted with respect to the height of the bowl above the hullbottom and thefslope' or slopesv of the hull bottom, rtheductilegrnaterial of which ferrul'e is composed, as for eXarnpleof lead,enabling it to be shaped atjits upperend to'conforni with the levelposition'of' the bowl and at lits lower end to conform with the slope orslopes of the' hullr bottom,

segments H which are adjacent to the 'lower Y edgesthereof and in theupperholes I4 inthe segments I2, and bolts Iiia are placed inappropriate holes' |3`in the segmentsv 'II immediately" above the'uppercurved edges of thefsegments ,1.2, these bolts having peripherallytoothed or serrated washers I6b thereon which are eccentric to therespective bolts I6a and are adapted to grip or mesh with thecorrespondingly toothed r serrated curved edges I2a on the segments I2.In using this arrangement, the upper and lower plates 'I and 8, afterbeing adjusted to the desired height and set in the proper angularrelation to bring the upper plate I level and compensate for slope ofthe bottom of the hull in a fore and aft and/or a lateral direction, aresecurely locked by rotating the eccentric washers in opposite directionson the respective bolts I6a until these washers engage the respectiveserrated edges of the segments I2, the longest radii of the eccentricwashers then extending divergently toward opposite sides of the axes ofthe bolts |63, and then tightening the bolts II'Sa and the bolts I5, thedivergent setting of the eccentric washers causing them to lock againstthe segments I2 and to rmly prevent rocking of the upper plate 'I ineither direction relatively to the lower plate 8. The stand as thusadjusted, may be otherwise installed and used in the same manner ashereinbefore described.

In operation, water from the exterior of the boat will normally riseinto the lower end of the bowl to the level of the water-line st a, orsubstantially so. Any refuse that may be contained in the lower end ofthe bowl or in the ferrule, while the boat is at anchor or not inmotion, will be withdrawn and washed out of the discharge end 28 of theshoe 2E by water entering the shoe through the aperture 21 incident tothe tide or current of water beneath the hull. When the boat is inmotion in a forward direction, water will enter the slots 34 in thescoop 3| and will be forced by the pressure of the water, incident tothe forward motion of the boat, upwardly through the pipe 35 into thechannel 3 surrounding the upper end of the bowl and such water willdischarge through the openings 4 into the bowl, thereby flushing orwashing it. At the same time, the movement of the shoe 26 through thewater will produce a partial vacuum at its rear discharge opening 28which will act to withdraw water and refuse from the lower end of thebowl and ferrule 29' and to eject the same into the water, and alsowater will enter the aperture 21 in the forward wall of the shoe therebyproducing a current rearwardly in the shoe which will assist in ejectingrefuse therefrom. Since the shoe 26 covers the lower or discharge end ofthe ferrule 20, it will serve to prevent splashing of water upwardlyinto the bowl incident to pitching of the boat in the water.

The stand provided by the present invention enables the closet bowl tobe readily mounted at the desired height with respect to the waterlineof the boat so that the proper amount of water may be normally containedin the lower portion of the bowl to provide a seal, and it enables thebowl to be mounted in a level position irrespective of the fore and aftor transverse slope of the bottom of the boat hull, thus obviating thenecessity of cutting a special block for mounting the bowl to suit eachinstallation as heretofore required and which is difficult andlaborious.

The shoe beneath the bowl discharge will effectually withdraw refusefrom the lower portion of the bowl and from the ferrule automatically inconsequence of the forward motion of the boat in the water, and at thesame time, the scoop will force water from beneath the boat upwardlyinto the upper portion of the bowl for washing or flushing it. While theboat is anchored or at rest, refuse will be washed automatically fromthe shoe by the tide or current of the water which will enter theaperture in the front end of the shoe and pass out through the dischargeopening in the rear thereof, thereby keeping the shoe clear of refuse.These results are all attained by the present invention withoutrequiring the use of valves, pumps or other accessories which are liableto get out of order and are otherwise objectionable.

I claim as my invention:

1. A Water closet for boats comprising a bowl having means for mountingit in a boat and having a discharge pipe at its lower end extendingdirectly downwardly therefrom to below the water line of the boat, saiddischarge pipe being open at its lower end beneath the bottom of theboat hull and providing a body of water in the lower portion of thebowl, and a member adapted for attachment to the under side of thebottom of the hull beneath the open end of the bowl discharge pipe andoperative to prevent splash of water into said discharge pipe, saidmember being open at its rear side and operative by the action of thewater thereon during the forward motion of the boat, to withdraw refusefrom the bowl.

2. A Water closet for boats comprising a bowl having means for mountingit in a boat and having a discharge pipe at its lower end extendingdirectly downwardly therefrom to below the water line of the boat, saiddischarge pipe being open at its lower end beneath the bottom of theboat hull and providing a body of water in the lower portion of thebowl, and a member adapted for attachment to the under side of thebottom of the hull beneath the lower open end of the bowl discharge pipeand having a wall beneath said open end of the discharge pipe, saidmember being open at its rear side for the discharge of refuse from thebowl and closed at its opposite side and provided with an aperturelocated above the level of said wall for admitting and directing a jetof Water over the surface of said wall and toward the open side of saidmember.

3. A water closet for boats comprising a bowl having means for mountingit in a boat and having a discharge pipe at its lower end extendingdownwardly therefrom to below the water line of the boat and through thebottom of the boat hull and providing a body of water in the lowerportion of the bowl, the bowl having flushing means in its upperportion, a member adapted for attachment to the underside of the bottomof the hull beneath the bowl discharge pipe and operative, by the actionof water thereon during forward motion of the boat, to withdraw refusefrom the bowl, and means adapted for attachment to the underside of theboat hull and connected to the flushing means in the upper portion of'the bowl and operative, during forward motion of the boat, to forcewater into the flushing means to flush the bowl.

EDWARD HOERICHS.

